Lead sharpening device for mechanical pencils



W. E. BRADY LEAD SHARPENING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed April 1'7, 1946 Dec. 9, 1947.

, PMH HU HHH 37nd j INVENTO flTTORA/EYIS Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED :s TATES oralce SHARPENING DEVHLE TOR MECHANICAL iPENCI IiS William BraflyfMuskegen, Application April .17, 1946, Serial -No. 662834 (Cl.-J.-20---15:)

40mins. -1

This invention relates to pencil having a self-contained lead sharpener, whereby the lead of the pencil equipped with the sharpening device, may be "readily .and easily sharpened or pointed, by merely extending the sharpening blade to a position over the lead in contact therewith, and then rotating the lead against .the sharpened edge-of the blade.

.An object f .the inventionis to provide :a lead sharpening device of this character which, when released, after the sharpening operation, will be automatically returned to its inactive position, where it will be out of the way and will not interfere with the use of the pencil in the usual way.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the inven tion as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure l is an elevational view of a mechanical pencil equipped with a lead sharpening device and constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional view of the pencil, illustrating the relative position of the lead and knife blade, during the sharpening or pointing of the lead.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the writing end of the pencil, the blade used in sharpening the lead, being shown as extended.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the movable blade, forming a part of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the body portion of a mechanical pencil, and the reference character 6 indicates the tapered or writing end of the pencil.

As shown, the main portion 5 of the pencil is formed with an extension I that fits into the recess 8 formed in the inner end of the tapered section 6, the connection between the extension I and the tapered end 6 of the pencil being such that the main portion of the pencil may swivel with respect to the tapered end 6.

The extension I is formed with a chuck 9 in which the lead I0 is held, the lead l0 being of a a mechanical lead v The itapered end 16 of the :pencil is :formed with arnecess H, the end lot the recess adjacent :to the Writin end of the pencil, being :shallow and of 'a depth 213.0 accommodate the blade 12, the recess Ll being stormed-with guideways in the walls thereof, {for-the .receptionof the edges of the blade 12 ,as shown :by the drawing. Since the :recess II follows the contour or inclined structure of the tapered end 6, it will be seen thatthe blade mounted within the grooves formed in the wall thereof, will move at an angle with respect to the lead H), which extends through the center of the tapered end 6. The beveled edge of the blade is so formed that it will contact with the free end of the lead It], when the blade is extended to the position as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, so that with the blade extended, the blade will act to taper the outer end of the lead, when the tapered end 6 of the pencil is held, and the main portion thereof rotated.

The reference character l3 indicates a coiled spring which has one of its ends secured at the inner end of the recess l I, by means of the pin l4, the opposite end of the coiled spring being secured to the inner end of the blade I 2, by extending this end of the spring through the eye l5. Thus it will be seen that since the spring 13 is of the contractile type, the spring will act to normaily draw the blade inwardly, so that the free end thereof will clear the end of the lead sharpened.

The outer surface of the blade I2 is knurled so that the blade may be pressed outwardly by the thumb, to its sharpening position. The main portion of the pencil is now rotated to rotate the lead against the cutting edge of the blade, sharpening the lead.

As previously stated, when the blade is released, the spring will automatically draw the blade inwardly so that it will not in any way interfere with the use of the pencil.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a lead pencil including amain portion to which the lead of the pencil is secured, and a tapered end member having swiveled connection therewith, through which the pencil lead extends, of a lead-sharpening blade slidably mounted on the tapered end member and adapted to contact the pencil lead extending beyond the tapered end member, and said main portion of the pencil adapted to be rotated, rotating the lead against the blade, sharpening the lead.

2. The combination with a lead pencil including a main portion to which the pencil lead is connected, and a tapered end member having swiveled connection therewith, through which the pencil lead extends, said tapered end member also having a recess formed longitudinally in the outer surface thereof, of a lead-sharpening blade slidably mounted within the recess and adapted to be extended beyond the free end of the tapered end member, said blade adapted to contact with the lead extended through the tapered end member,

, recess extending to the free end of the tapered end and said main portion of the pencil adapted to be 9 rotated with respect to the tapered end member,

whereby the lead is moved into engagement with the blade, sharpening the lead.

3. The combination with a lead pencil includ-' ing a main portion to which the pencil leadv is connected, and a tapered end member having swiveled connection therewith, through which pencil lead extends, said tapered end member having a recess formed'longitudinally thereof in the outer surface of the end member, said recess having grooves formed in the walls thereof, a blade mounted within the grooves, a spring member mounted within the recess and beingconnected with the blade, said spring member adapted to return the blade to a position within the recess, and said blade adapted to be extended beyond the end of the tapered end member, in conmember, the walls of the recess having grooves, a blade slidably mounted within the grooves, said blade adapted to be retracted within the recess, a spring for retracting the blade, said blade adapted to be extended beyond the free end of the tapered end member to contact with the pencil lead, whereby the lead is sharpened when the main portion of the pencil is rotated with respect to the tapered end member.

WILLIAM E. BRADY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Keating Mar. 3, 1936 Number 

